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DIPLOMA GEAR FAQ
Q: WHAT KIND OF CAMERA DO I NEED?
A: A digital SLR camera and at least one lens. There are many choices on the market and we recommend starting with a mid-range model from Canon or Nikon; there are other manufacturers but in our experience Canon and Nikon have the most comprehensive range of cameras, lenses, and accessories for the professional photographer.
Current mid-range models to consider include: Canon EOS 60D, Canon EOS 7D, Nikon D7000 and Nikon D300s. Students on a budget can certainly search the used market for older generations of these cameras (Canon 30D 40D 50D, Nikon D80, D90, D300, D200).
There is also a film component, so students are required to have a film SLR with at least one lens. This camera must be capable of metering in a manual exposure mode. There are Canon and Nikon film bodies available in the used market that can take advantage of many of the same lenses as current DSLRs. Alternatively, some students go with a classical mechanical camera (Pentax K1000, Nikon FE, Canon AE1) and a basic lens for the film component.
Q: WHAT ABOUT OTHER PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT?
A: You will also need a sturdy tripod with a photographic (not video) head. Manfrotto, Slik, and Giottos make good quality tripods at decent prices. Generally speaking, a quality tripod starts around $150.
Some specific models to look at for a starting point include the Slik 500 DX and the Manfrotto 190.
Q: WHAT ABOUT COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE?
A: The school has a modern computer lab composed of Macintosh computers running the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop CS and Lightroom. Students are required to bring an external hard drive which is Macintosh compatible with an independent power supply and at least 500 GB of storage space. FireWire support is ideal for fast transfer speeds, and we recommend LaCie or Seagate as reputable brands.
We do not require that our students use a Macintosh computer at home (though it is recommended) and the software we teach is equally available for the Windows operating system. Many students find it valuable to use a Macintosh laptop computer during the school year.
Q: WHAT WILL I NEED FOR THE DARKROOM?
A: We usually work together with a local retailer to put together a package of paper, film, and other darkroom necessities to make it easy to find darkroom supplies.
Q: IS THAT IT?
A. Most students add to this kit over the school year. By January, most students have invested in a second hard drive and an on-camera flash as well as additional lenses better suited to their developing specialities.
Q: WHERE CAN I FIND ALL THIS STUFF?
A. PrairieView now offers gear buying advice and solutions through our ViewFinder store located right in the school. Winnipeg is also well served by several excellent full-service photographic equipment stores We recommend Don's Photo, Henry's, and Photo Central.
